HS GIRLS BASKETBALL: Karcher key in Greenwood reaching I-4A tourney

Published 3:27 pm, Thursday, February 25, 2016

Greenwood's Natalee Karcher (15) is fouled by Lubbock Estacado's Neke Hardrick (21) in the regional quarterfinal game Tuesday, Feb. 23, 2016, at Lamesa Middle School in Lamesa. James Durbin/Reporter-Telegram

Greenwood's Natalee Karcher (15) is fouled by Lubbock Estacado's Neke Hardrick (21) in the regional quarterfinal game Tuesday, Feb. 23, 2016, at Lamesa Middle School in Lamesa. James Durbin/Reporter-Telegram

Photo: James Durbin

HS GIRLS BASKETBALL: Karcher key in Greenwood reaching I-4A tourney

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Greenwood shooting guard Natalee Karcher described coming to Midland as a culture shock when her family moved here for the oil industry a couple years back.

Karcher hailed from Comanche, Oklahoma, a town with a 2010 Census population of 1,663.

“Where I came from, it was extremely small,” said Karcher, who moved to the area as an eighth grader. “Greenwood was a lot bigger than the town I came from. Just all of the people and Midland itself, going to downtown Midland, it was an eye opener for us. That was a little bit of an adjustment.”

Karcher has since settled in nicely and gotten comfortable as a sophomore on the Rangerettes girls basketball team. The guard has been the high scorer in each of GHS’ three playoff wins and has guided the Rangerettes (25-11) to the Region 1-4A Tournament where they face Brownwood (25-7) at 7 p.m. today at Rip Griffin Center in Lubbock.

Karcher says Greenwood’s run to the regional tournament has galvanized the locals and she feels at home because of the community’s passion and affection for the team.

“We’re really just a close community and the support is amazing here,” Karcher said.

One of the glaring traits about Karcher is her athleticism.

During softball season, Karcher plays shortstop, which is typically is occupied by the most athletic player, on the Rangerettes.

The shooting guard has the speed and quickness to dribble to the basket, and she teams with point guard Caity Payne to pester opposing ball handlers in GHS’ full-court press defense.

Karcher averages 3.0 steals a game, which trails only Payne at 3.4.

Greenwood head coach Quint Anthony says Karcher is an active player that is involved in many facets of what his team does.

“Probably the best thing she is doing and I tried to tell her this, ‘just be everywhere on the floor,’” Anthony said. “She’s so incredibly fast and she’s so incredibly athletic that she is able to run all over the place and get to a lot of different situations that some players can’t get to. Her defense, along with her ability to drive to the basket -- they’re just really beneficial for her game.”

Karcher scored 18 points in an 86-27 bi-district win over San Elizario, 21 points in a 53-21 area victory versus Borger and 11 points during a 51-42 regional quarterfinal triumph against Lubbock Estacado on Tuesday.

In addition to her ability to penetrate, Anthony says Karcher is an adept shooter from beyond the arc, which makes her a well-rounded offensive weapon.

Even though Karcher has been on a scoring spree for GHS, she believes her high point totals are the result of her teammates’ efforts in creating turnovers on defense.

“Every one works together and usually I’m the furthest down on the court so I will get the ball and I will go lay it up,” Karcher said. “It’s just everyone is working as a team right now.”

Karcher’s journey to playoff success took a rough and bumpy road early in the season.

The Rangerettes’ shooting guard suffered a concussion in her team’s second scrimmage, which not only forced her to miss games, but the head injury affected her play on the court when she returned.

“I had that subconscious fear of being out again,” Karcher said. “I wanted to avoid any contact with my head so I wouldn’t drive as often or as hard as I did last year in the beginning of the year because I was afraid I was going to hurt it and I would be out again and I hate being out.

“We got over that -- me, Coach Anthony, a lot of the girls helped me through that. They were very encouraging, (they said) ‘just drive, do your best, go your hardest, you will be OK.’ They helped me pull through that hard time.”

Karcher eventually got back into a groove on the court, which has helped Greenwood get on a roll as it has won 13 of 14 games heading into today’s regional tournament.

“I know that I have my teammates behind me, my coaches behind me and an amazing community behind me,” Karcher said. “I think if we do it together and we all come together, we will go as far as we want to go.”

Notes: Brownwood was ranked No. 25 in the final TABC Class 4A poll. ... Point guard Trejour Wilson, a 6-foot-2 senior, leads the Lady Lions with a whopping 20.2 points per game. ... GHS and Brownwood used to schedule each other in non-district play in years past so Rangerettes head coach Quint Anthony is very familiar with their style. “Coach (Heather) Hohertz, I’ve known her for a long time,” Anthony said. “...They are going to be very tough defensively. They always are.” ... The Region 1-4A Tournament features the top two teams from both District 4-4A(Greenwood and Seminole) and District 4-6A (Abilene Wylie and Brownwood). Wylie was ranked No. 7 in the final TABC poll and features Texas Tech commit Brittany Brewer, a 6-foot-4 post. “We’re going to have our hands full, but I think we’re ready to take on any challenge that comes our way,” Anthony said of the regional tournament field.